4.-CALCUTTA BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The Eighteenth Anniversary of the above Society was held in the Circular Road Chapel, on Thursday evening, the 13th of December last. There was a numerous attendance of the friends of Missions, and a spirit of deep interest appeared to pervade the minds of all. On the motion of the Rev. J. Thomas, seconded by the Rev. W. Yates, J. A. F. Hawkins, Esq. of the Civil Service, took the chair. The meeting was opened by the Rev. J. D. Ellis imploring the Divine blessing. The Chairman, in a very appropriate address, then explained the objects for which the meeting had been convened, and particularly adverted to the assistance which laymen could render, by their influence, their property and their indivi dual exertions, to the Missionary cause. He concluded by calling on the Secretary (Rev. J. Penney) to read the Report. Several extracts given below will shew the interesting nature of this record of the Society's operations. It is altogether one of the most cheering Reports ever issued by this Society, exhibiting many instances of the power of Divine grace in bringing the hearts of the debased Hindu and haughty Musalman into subjection to the obedience of Christ. Upwards of one hundred have been added to the churches in Calcutta and the neighbouring stations, during the period embraced in the Report.

Extracts from the Report having been read, the Rev. J. Macdonald of the Scottish Mission, rose to propose the following Resolution, seconded by Rev. J. B. Symes.

I. That the Report, from which extracts have now been read, be publish. ed and circulated for the information of Subscribers.

Moved by the Rev. M. Hill, and seconded by the Rev. T. Boaz.

II. That this Meeting acknowledges with gratitude the goodness of God in the success that has crowned the endeavours of the Society's Agents during the past year, and would encourage them and all their fellow-labourers in the Missionary field to zealous and persevering exertion under the full assurance that such exertion will not be in vain.

Moved by the Rev. W. Morton, and seconded by the Rev. R. Bayne. III. That the following Ministers and Gentlemen be the Officers and Committee for the ensuing year. Treasurer,-Mr. I. B. Biss. Secretary, -Rev. J. Penney. Committee,-Rev. Messrs. C. C. Aratoon, R. Bayne, J. D. Ellis, J. Thomas, and W. Yates, Messrs. J. S. Biss, A. Dyson, C. Holmes, Captain P. Holmes, Messrs. J. Rowe, M. Wittenbaker, and S. G. Wyatt.

Animated addresses were delivered by the movers and seconders of the Resolutions, and after a closing address from the chair, the doxology was sung and the meeting was concluded by prayer by the Rev. W. Yates. It was highly pleasing to see individuals from so many sections of the one church uniting to celebrate the triumphs of the cross, and to promote the cause of the Redeemer. The collection amounted to about 500 rupees.

The following extract from the Report gives a cheering account of the prospects of the Mission.

"The period which has elasped since the date of the last Report has been rendered remarkable in the history of the Mission by an occurrence of the most delightful character. The breach which had so long existed, and to a considerable extent weakened the energies and retarded, as well as divided, the efforts of the denomination in the Missionary enterprise, has been happily healed, and the denomination both in England and India is once more united in its efforts to enlighten this heathen land. This very interesting and important event took place in December last, when arrangements were made for the transfer to the Society of all

the stations formerly supported in connection with Serampore, and which took effect on the first of May last, from which date the brethren occupying those stations have been placed on the funds of the parent Society. The amicable spirit, and the holy feelings with which these arrangements were entered into England, and have been responded to in this country by the brethren more immediately interested, afford the fullest ground to hope that the prosperity of the Mission and the glory of God will be greatly promoted by the measure.

"Beside the auspicious event just stated, the past year has been productive of other measures of great importance to the Society, and to its operations in this part of the world. On the strong and faithful representation of the state of the Mission here, made by Mr. W. H. Pearce on his arrival in England, the Society yielded to his earnest appeal for further help, and agreed to his proposal that ten more labourers should be sent out to the East as soon as funds could be realized and men provided. Mr. Pearce in conjunction with a few other friends engaged by personal application to collect the sum required, viz. £5000, and the gratifying intelligence has been recently received that the whole amount has been obtained. As the first fruits of this effort the brethren connected with this Society in Calcutta have been recently cheered by the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Bayne. One Missionary has also been sent to strengthen the Mission in Ceylon; the arrival of another in Calcutta is shortly expected, and others will probably follow in the ensuing spring."

The following may prove encouraging to those who are labouring in the good cause.

"The case of one of those who have been added to the church by baptism will afford interest to the friends of this Society. We refer to Hari Har Sandel, a Hindu youth of eighteen years of age; he was a kulin brahman and connected with some of the most respectable families in this city. At his baptism he gave an account of his conversion, when he stated that he first became acquainted with the doctrines of Christianity at Mr. ELLIS's school, Chitpur. He remained in this school until it was given up, and then attended the Benevolent Institution, where this convictions of the truth of Christianity were deepened. At last he became acquainted with Gangá Nárayan Sil, whose instructions led him to decide on embracing the Saviour. Several efforts have been made to induce him to return to his friends and to their idols, and some violent attempts were made to force him away. We are happy to say that he remained firm, and is still an ornament to the profession he has made. It is gratifying to add that since his baptism, his wife has made her escape from her friends, and cast in her lot with her husband; she is now under Christian instruction, and promises to be a very useful woman."

"Very soon after the publication of the last Report Mr. G. Pearce had the pleasure of baptizing seven females connected with the Native Christian Institution under his care, and at the same time he had the happiness of baptizing an intelligent youth, a bráhman of the kulin caste. This interesting young man in giving an account of himself stated that he received a tract on the Ten Commandments," from Mr. Carapiet Aratoon, which tract he took home and read frequently and attentively. The reading of the tract convinced him of his sinfulness and the holiness of God. Being thus convinced of sin and distressed in mind, he left his home in pursuit of the person who gave him the tract, hoping that he would answer the question that agitated him, What shall I do to be saved?' In searching for the Missionary he providentially met with Gangá Nárayan Sil, who engaged to direct him to a person who would gladly instruct him what to do. He introduced him to Mr. Pearce,

who was rejoiced to find a Hindu in earnest after the salvation of his soul. After having remained some time and given satisfactory evidence of his sincerity, he was baptized. Mr. Pearce rejoiced over him as a son in the Gospel, and had every reason to believe from bis abilities and zeal, that he would become a bright and a shining light among his benighted countrymen. After he had been with him some weeks he felt a desire to see his friends and to tell them what a dear Saviour he had found.' At length his wishes were complied with, and he was allowed to return to his friends, but not without many fears that no good would arise from it. He went, and after some time returned; but not without having suffered injury in his faculties. It is the general opinion that foul means had been used by his friends, and that some deleterious drug had been administered which had thus rendered him an object of pity. The young man shortly after returned again to his friends and has not since been heard of. Mr. Pearce had also the gratification of baptizing Gangá Nárayan Sil, whose name has just been mentioned as having introduced the brahman to the Missionary, and who was formerly a pupil, and subsequently a teacher, in the school at Chitpur."

"On the departure of Mr. Pearce, for England, Mrs. Pearce removed from Sibpur to Calcutta, bringing with her the children belonging to the Female Department of the Christian Institution under her care, together with the Native Christians who had resided with them. Shortly after their removal to Calcutta eight girls belonging to the Institution, together with two women and two young men were baptized. All the candidates were examined and instructed by Mr. Yates, before they were admitted to this solemn ordinance. Most of them would have been baptized earlier, had it not been for the distressing illness of Mr. Pearce. It is matter for rejoicing that God has granted an addition of more than twenty persons during the last year to this interesting church, the greater part of whom are young in life, some of their ages not exceeding nine years."

The Boys' Native Christian Institution promises much usefulness. Mr. Ellis writes that it

"Continues to prosper, and is altogether in a very promising state. During the past year four have been removed by death. One of them named MARK was in the first class, and had been upwards of three years a member of the church. During his long illness there was nothing unbecoming the Christian character. He was resigned to the will of God, felt that even his affliction was in mercy, and he died in peace, knowing in whom he had believed, and showing unto all around him the supporting power of religion in the last and trying hour. The present number in the institution is about 50, and we expect this number will be increased. Two have been baptized during the year, and there are others who give every evidence of piety and qualification for that sacred ordinance. The theological class contains six young men, and besides reading in order Horne's Critical Introduction to the Scriptures, they have commenced the study of the Literary History, Interpretation, Evidences and Doctrines of the Bible, as a part of the course of theological study which has been marked out for them. The elder students have been regularly engaged in preaching both to Christian and Heathen congregations, and we have every reason for gratitude to the God of all grace that both in piety and talent they give promise of becoming able ministers of the New Testament."

The following is a brief abstract of operations at the stations of the Parent Society in the Mufassil.

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"At Catwa, Mr. Carey labours; his account is on the whole pleasing, but he has had no addition to his Church during the last year. At Beerbhoom, Mr. Williamson resides, his prospects appear very encouraging; he has baptized four. At Munghyr, Mr. Leslie has baptized four; he has suffered much from ill health, and will probably have to return to England shortly. At Patna, Mr. Beddy continues to labour with some encou raging prospects of success. Digah has been occupied by Mr. Lawrence, but he has within the last few weeks left the station for Munghyr, a mea. sure deemed expedient in consequence of Mr. Leslie's ill state of health. Mr. Lawrence's success among the European soldiers quartered at the station, has been very considerable. At Bunáras, Mr. Smith has labour. ed for many years; he has baptized four persons during the last year. At Chunar, a branch society has existed for some years; which, in addition to aiding the funds of this Auxiliary, has laboured to keep up an inter. est in the place. They have succeeded in erecting a neat pakka chapel during the past year; two persons have been added to the Church. At Agra a Church has been formed with about 60 members who support Mr. Williams, as their Pastor. At Dilhi Mr. Thompson, formerly resided and laboured; but for the last three years the station has been left to his native assistant in consequence of his having been called to labour at Se rampore. In consideration of the great distance of this place from the Society's other stations, it is proposed to give it up, at least for the present; and Mr. Thompson will, in the meantime, occupy Gazeepore, to which place many of the pious soldiers lately under the care of Mr. Lawrence, have been removed. The Barisal station is occupied by Mr. Bareiro; he has not had any addition during the year. In Jessore, resides Mr. Parry; his native church contains about 50 members, of whom six have been received within the last few months. At Dacca, Mr. Leonard resides; he has been for the most part devoted to schools; in direct mission work he has not been able to accomplish or to attempt much. Mr. Robinson, accompanied by two native preachers, is about to proceed to the station where the hope is indulged that his labours will be crowned with success, and that future reports will have to record the onward progress of the Redeemer's cause in this populous place. Akyáb was formerly occupied by Mr. Fink; the church contains about 24 members, but since Mr. Fink left the station about a year ago, it has been left to the care of native assistants. The last place to be mentioned is Chittagong; here Mr. Johannes has been for some time labouring, a church has been formed, and a commodious chapel erected. Mr. Fink has recently removed to this station, where he will in future labour conjointly with Mr. Johannes."

5.-TRANSLATION OF THE SCRIPTURES.

The following extract from the Report of the Calcutta Baptist Mission. ary Society, giving an account of the progress of the translation of God's Holy Word into the languages of the East, cannot but prove interesting to those who have at heart the spiritual regeneration of India. It will be seen that God has, through the instrumentality of the American and Foreign Bible Society, multiplied by thousands his holy word. May it, in the hands of the Spirit, beautify and gladden this land of spiritual desola tion, through the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.

"The liberal contributions placed at the disposal of the Calcutta Baptist Missionaries by the American and Foreign Bible Society, having furnished them with the means of entering more fully than heretofore on the important work of translating and printing the word of God in the lan

guages of the country, and the recent changes in the circumstances of the Mission having supplied them with increased facilities for distribution, they have esteemed it at once their duty and privilege to respond to the manifest call of Providence, to engage with renewed ardour in this holy work. They have accordingly endeavoured to make such arrangements as will enable them to carry on operations in this department of labor on a scale which will bear some proportion to the assistance they have received and are encouraged to expect, and to the wants of the people among whom and for whom they have been called to labour.

"In giving an account of what they have sought to accomplish in this. department, they have thought it would be gratifying to their friends and supporters both in this country, and in England and America, to be supplied with a brief sketch of what has been already done, as well as of what is now in hand.

"The first portion of the sacred volume which they had the honor to present, as a kind of first fruits unto God, was the Psalms of David in Bengali translated by Mr. Yates. The first edition went to Press in the year 1825. It was printed for the Calcutta Bible Society and consisted of 1000 copies. In 1833 the first edition of their New Testament in Bengali was put to Press. Of this edition 800 copies were printed, with extra copies of the Gospels and other parts for separate distribution. In 1834 the second edition of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke was printed; John would have followed, had not the Committee of the Calcutta Bible Society expressed a wish to make use of the version in the copies printed at their expense. Their wishes having been acceded to, a new edition of the whole Testament was put to press, consisting of 1500 copies of the entire Testament for the Calcutta Bible Society, with extra copies of the Gospels, the Acts and Epistles to be bound separately, equal to rather more than 5000 Testaments, and making together an aggregate of upwards of 27,000 volumes; for their own Society 500 copies of the whole Testament, 1500 of the first three Gospels and the Acts, and 2500 of John, were printed at the same time. In the copies executed for the Calcutta Bible Society, the Greek words for baptism were, at their request, left untranslated; while in those printed from funds at their own disposal, the words before used were retained agreeably to their own convictions of duty. This united edition though commenced in 1835 was not completed until the early part of 1837. Respecting this version the Committee of the Calcutta Bible Society observe, in their last report,

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"It cannot but gratify the friends of this Society to know, that this version has been pronounced by very competent judges, an able and excellent translation. The Committee earnestly pray, that its merits may not only be acknowledged by man, but that it may be accepted, and adopted and owned with an abundant conversion of souls, by the great Head of the Church, in its future circulation.'

"About the period when their labours in bringing out this edition of the Bengali New Testament were brought to a close, they received the first intimation of the formation of the American and Foreign Bible Society, and with it the pleasing intelligence of their having made their first appropriation of 2500 dollars to aid in printing the New Testament in Bengali. Thankful for this timely and liberal aid, but unable to commence immediately another edition of that version, having previously determined on a new translation of the Testament into the Hindustani language, they resolved to make over to the American and Foreign Bible Society the 500 copies of the edition just completed, which were accordingly published in the name and at the cost of that Society. Arrange